Pre-Budget Speech vs Post-Budget Speech

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Once the giddiness of the Washington drama-a-thon on Friday began to wear off, I had to take a break from the news for a few days simply because I was starting to take it too personally. When the GOP kept kicking women, children, elderly, working people, people in my income level and lower, and most everything I believe to be right and good, I was literally down for the count.

I regained steam today after President Obama spoke and laid out his plan for the budget. As a liberal without a true liberal party, I was pleased that President Obama at least defended the Democratic Party platform.

Here are the President's four key points:

• Budget Cuts.  The President’s approach builds on the compromise reached last week and will save us $770 billion over twelve years.
• Security Spending.  Working with Secretary of Defense Gates and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mullen we will find $400 billion in defense savings by 2023 while ensuring that our troops have the resources they need to protect our national security.
• Health Care Costs. The President’s approach to reforming Medicare and Medicaid keeps our commitments to seniors, people with disabilities, and children while reducing health care spending.  By 2023, these reforms will help us save $480 billion and an additional $1 trillion in the decade after that.
• Tax Reform. The President’s approach would eliminate the Bush tax cuts and limit itemized deductions for the wealthiest 2% of Americans – reducing the deficit by $320 billion over ten years.  The President is also calling on Congress to reform the individual tax code so that the amount of taxes you pay isn’t determined by what kind of accountant you can afford. (source) (fact check)

 The salve that soothed my soul, however, was the speech itself. In true Obama form, he was able to communicate what I needed to hear, when I needed to hear it. If you were unable to watch/listen to the speech, take time to read the transcript. He is willing to stand up for what I believe in, for what I voted for.

This sense of responsibility — to each other and to our country — this isn't a partisan feeling. It isn't a Democratic or a Republican idea. It's patriotism. ~President Barack Obama